Rail anchor



l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,022,704 RAIL ANCHOR Rolandis A. Blair, Fort Wayne, Ind., assigner to My invention relates for one of its obj The P & M'Company,

tion of Illinois Chicago, Ill., a corpora- Application June 3, 1929, Serial No. 368,163

27 Claims. to rail anchors and has ects the provision of a new and improved rail anchor which will present certain advantages in connection with its manufacture and its application to applied will maintain bottom of the rail base in its applied position a rail, and which when a rm grip on the top and and will be rmly locked on the rail.

A more specic object is to provide an improved tWo-piece ancho at metal the members.

Another object of r which may be made from which blanks are so formed the invention is to provide a rail anchor comprising a gripping member and a retaining member, the latter of which, when the anchor is applied to a rail, is exed downwardly so that the resilient pressure resulting from said rail.

The invention also contemplates as a speciiic construction, the wedging the gripping member a in substantially engagement between nd the retaining member,

were a one-piece device.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed descripti companying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side View of portion oi the rail bei Fig. 2 is a plan view in Fig. 1.

ng shown in section.

of the construction shown l Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the rail gripping member, and

Fig. 4 is a view in portion or retaining adapted to iit4 between shown in Fig. 3.

The embodiment of 'perspective of the under rail bar of the anchor which is the jaws of the member the invention illustrated' in the drawing consists, preferably, of a rail gripping member l f baseflange of the rail,

or engagement with one and a retainingmember (Cl. 23S-329) which extends across beneath the rail base and engages the opposite side thereof to lock the gripping member in its applied position. The gripping member I@ is formed from a flat metal blank bent to a U-shaped configuration to provide spaced flanges I 2 and i3. The web I 4 connecting the flanges of the member It is preferably cut away to provide a fulcrum seat I 5 against which the retaining bar i i bears when it is in its operative position. The vertical inner edges of the flanges I2 and I3 are each recessed to provide upper jaws HG-Ia and lower jaws Il-I'la for engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of the base iiange. The distance between the the anchor is in its normal applied position. The outer marginal portion of the anges I2 and I3 are indented to provide inwardly projecting stop ed to its applied position between the flanges I2 and I3. The member II is normally straight so that, with the bottom surface bearing against the fulcrum seat I5 and the shoulder end p the lugs I8-I8a, the other end of the bar will extend upwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. VWith such construction it will be seen that the bar II will be flexed downwardly during the application of the device to the rail, that is to say, it will be flexed downwardly from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in full lines. It functions, therefore, as a resilient lever, which bears downwardly on the fulcrum seat I5 and upwardly against the inwardly projecting lugs I8-I8a so as to hold the'gripping member IU turned about an axis extending longitudinally of the rail.

The rotational movement of the gripping member forces the end portions of the upper jaws IS-Ia into tight gripping engagement with the inclined top surface of the rail base at member.

2 the point 2I and also provides a tight grip of the bottom jaws Il-I'Ia with the bottom of the rail base at the point 22.

The end of the retaining' member is preferably formed to provide wedge surfaces 23 and 24 which, when the said bar is driven between the flanges I2 and I3, spreadsV the flanges apart. The reflex of the said flanges serves to clamp the retaining bar in its normally assembled position, whereby the anchor may be applied to the rail in substantially the same manner as a one-piece device. The wedge end of the bar II, being somewhat wider than the shoulder end I9, facilitates assembling of the device in. that the narrower end of the bar may be inserted between the flanges I2 and I3 and then forced to its operative position. The said bar may be moved to substantially the position shown Yin dotted lines in Fig. 2 before it is necessary to vdrive the wedge end between the flanges I2 and I3. 'The wedge end may be formed by any suitable method. I prefer, however, to shear the blanks from a bar of metal of uniform width and then, by a forging operation, displace the metal at one end of the blankV to form the wedge surfaces.

YBy forming the anchor in two parts, one part may be made of a different quality of metal. For example, the bar I I may be made of a higher quality of spring metal than the rail gripping A further advantage is presented by the above construction, in that the dii-ferent sizes of anchors may be formed by merely varying the length of the retaining bar.

In operation the rail gripping member and the retaining bar are assembled by inserting the narrower end I9 of the bar II between the flanges I2 and I3 of the rail gripping member and then driving the bar in the direction of its length until the wedge end 23, 24, is tightly gripped between the flanges I2 and I3 of the gripping member and until the upstanding lug 20 on the bar is in engagement with the inwardly projecting lugs IIl--IBaJ of the gripping member. The upper jaws of the device may then be hooked over one flange of the rail base and the anchor as a whole driven transversely of the rail by striking the upstanding flange 20 of the retaining bar. The transverse movement of the anchor forces the end I9 of the bar downwardly and exerts a resilient leverage on the rail gripping member soV as to`rotate it in a clockwise direction, with reference to Fig. l, so as to effect a binding grip of the upper and lower jaws at the points 2|, 22 of the rail base. As soon as the anchor has been position, the'locking shoulder I9 snaps over the opposite edge of the rail base so gripping member in its fully applied position.

While I have illustrated my invention in connection with one specific embodiment, it will be obvious that modifications in structure might be made without departure fromV the spirit of my invention. Therefore, I wish it understood that I desire to claim both broadly and specifically all modifications in structure coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rail anchor comprising a jaw member recessed to receive one flange of a rail base with capacity for Vturning movement thereon, and separable resilient means for pressing upwardly against the bottom of the rail to exert pressure on said jaw member tending to turn it about an axis extending longitudinally of the rail; said separable means being movable lengthwise into driven to its fully appliedV as to lock the clamping engagement with said jaw member and held in clamped engagement therewith by reason of the resiliencyV of said jaw member.

2. A rail anchor comprising a jaw member recessed to receive one flange of a rail base with capacity for turning movement thereon, and separable means movable across beneath the rail into locking engagement with the opposite edge of the base and adapted to press upwardly against the bottom of the rail adjacent the last 10 mentioned edge to exert pressure on said jaw member tending to turn it about an axis extending longitudinally of the rail; said separable means being movable lengthwise into clamping'V engagement with said jaw member and held in clamped engagement therewith by reason of the resiliency of said jaw member.

3. A rail anchor comprising a jaw member recessedrto receive one flange of a' rail base with capacity for turning movement thereon, Vand separable resilient means movable across beneath the rail into locking engagement with the opposite edge of the base and adapted to pressl upwardly against the bottom of the rail adjacent the last mentioned edge of the base to exert pressure on said jaw member tending to turn it about an axis extending longitudinally of the rail; said separable means being movable lengthwise into clamping engagement with said jaw member and held in clamped engagement therewith by reason of the resiliency of said jaw member.

4. A rail anchor comprising means for gripping one flange of a rail base, and a separable retaining member movable freely for a portion of its length relative to the gripping member but when fully assembled with the gripping member is held by spring pressure exerted by said gripping member and provided .with a locking shoulder for engagement with the edge of the other flange of the rail base; the retaining member being positioned to exert pressure on the gripping member tending to turn it about an axis extending longitudinally of the rail.

5. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member having a pair of jaws for gripping the top surface of one base ilange of the rail and a, retaining member movable freely for a portion of its length relative to the gripping member but in its fully assembled position is held clamped by the spring action of said gripping member, movable transversely of the rail into locking engagement with the edge of the other` base flange, and positioned to exert a rocking pressure on said gripping member to force the said jaws into tight gripping engagement with the top surface of the rail base.

6. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member provided with spaced jaw portions and a retaining member formed at one end with Va wedge surface adapted to be driven into spring clamping engagement/between said jaw portions and formed with a portion which, by engagement with the rail exerts lever pressure on said gripping member tending to rock it about an axis extending longitudinally of the rail.

7. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member provided with spaced jaw portions and a retaining member which increases in width toward one end to provide a wedge surface adapted to be forced by movement of the retaining member in the direction of its length into spring clamping engagement between the said jaw portions; the said retaining member being positioned to bear upwardly agamst the bottom surfaceof g5 the rail base so as to exert lever pressure on said gripping member tending to rock it about an axis extending longitudinally of the rail.

8. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member provided with spaced jaw portions and a retaining member movable in the direction of locking engagement with the opposite edge of the rail base; the said retaining ymember being adapted to press upwardly against the bottom surface of the rail base and thereby exert a lever force on said gripping member tending to rock it about engagement with one base flange of the rail, and a retaining member ior holding the gripping member in its normal operative position on the rail comprising a metal bar extending across beneath the rail base, formed at one end with a jaw portions to spread the same and thereby effeet a spring gripping action or" the jaw portions Cn said retaining member.

10. A rail anchor comprising a U-shaped rail gripping member having jaws for embracing the base or a rail at points spaced longitudinally or" the rail with relation to each other, provided with a fulcrum seat and with a stop, a retaining member supported on said fulcrum seat and engaging said stop and adapted to press upwardly against said stop and against the bottom surface of the rail base to exert a turning pressure on said gripping member to iorce it into gripping engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of the rail base.

11. A rail anchor comprising a U-shaped gripping member, the flanges of which stand edge- Wise to the edge of the rail base and are each formed with recesses providing jaws for gripping the top and bottom surfaces of one base flange of the rail, a retaining Imemberformed at one end with a locking shoulder for engagement with the longitudinal edge of the other base iiange of the rail and formed at the other end with a lug movable into engagement with the gripping member to limit the transverse movements of said retaining member and provided also with a wedge surface for spreading said U-shaped member; the said retaining bar being positioned to exert presand said gripping member, tending to rock the said gripping member about the extremity of the upper jaws as a iulcrum, to effect a strong lever grip of the device on the rail.

12. A rail anchor comprising means for gripping one flange of a rail base, and a retaining member movable in the direction of its length into increasing spring clamping engagement with said gripping member by reason of resilient pressure exerted by the gripping member and adapted to press upwardly against the bottom of the rail to exert pressure on the gripping member tending to turn it about an axis extending longitudinally of the rail.

13. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member having a jaw for gripping the top surface of one base flange of the rail and a retaining member movable freely for a portion of its length relative to the gripping member but in its fully assembled position has a spring clamping engagement with the gripping member by reason gripping engagement wlth said top surface of the base iiange.

14. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping 10;

member having a pair of jaws for gripping the top surface of one base flange of the rail and a retaining member movable freely for a portion of its length relative to the gripping member but and positioned to exert a rocking pressure on said gripping member to force the said jaws into tight gripping engagement with said top surface of said base iiange.

15. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member provided with pairs of jaws for gripping the top and bottom surfaces of one base iiange of 215;-

i6. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping A` member provided with spaced jaw portions and a retaining member movable in the direction of its length relative to the gripping member into spring clamping engagement with said jaw portions and Jaw portions by said retaining memberr due to its aforesaid longitudinal movement and movableinto locking engagement with the opposite edge of the rail base to hold the gripping member in its rail gripping position on the rail.

17. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member provided with spaced jaw portions and a retaining member movable in the direction of its gripping member into spring clamping engagement with the jaw portions and held clamped therebetween by the resilient pressure exerted by one of said members upon the other member due to the aforesaid relative movement of the into locking engagement with the opposite edge of the rail base; the said retaining member being adapted to press upwardly against the bottom surface of the rail base and thereby exert a lever force on said gripping member tending to rock it about an axis extending longitudinally of the rail base.

18. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member provided with spaced jaw portions and a retaining member movable in the direction of its length relatively to the engagement with the opposite edge of the rail base; the said retaining member being adapted to press upwardly against the bottom surface of the rail base and thereby exert a lever forceon said other base flange, and arranged 30?'A site longitudinal edges of gripping member tending to rock it about an'axis extending longitudinally of the rail base.

19. A rail .anchor comprising a rail ange gripping member having spaced jaw portions provided with angularly disposed surfaces and a retaining member movable in the direction of its length into increasing spring clamping engagement with said angularly disposed surfaces, whereby said members are held engagedby reason of the resilient pressure exerted by the jaw portions of said gripping member.

20. A rail anchor comprising a rail flange gripping member and a retaining member movable in the direction of its length relative to said clamp member and into locking engagement with the opposite flange of the rail base to hold said gripping member in its applied position on the rail, one of said members having a cam surface engageable by the other and providing a spring pressure engagement of thev clamp member jaws on opposite longitudinal edges of the retaining member.

2l. A rail anchor comprising a rail flange gripping member having spaced jaw portions provided with angularly disposed surfaces, and a retaining member movable freely between said jaws for a portion of its length during the assembly of the parts but in its fully assembled positionV has a` spring clamping engagement with said angularly disposed surfaces of said clamp member jaws whereby the said gripping member and said retaining member are held engaged by resilient pressure exerted by said jaw portions on oppothe retaining member.

22. In a two part rail anchor, the combination of an abutment plate member providedV with oppositely disposed spaced bearings, and a transverse bar'adapted by wedging engagement of its longitudinal edges with said bearings when the device is on a rail to hold said abutment plate member in position on the rail and adapted by said engagement with said bearings when Ythe device is free of the rail to hold said gripping member and retaining member engaged with each other.

23. A rail anchor comprising a pair of relatively movable gripping members adapted to grippingly embrace a rail base between them and positioned,

relative to one another when separate from a rail, in readiness for application to a rail, one of said members being in embracing engagement with the other member and exerting holding pressure on the other member in a plurality of non-parallel directions, the said members being in close frictional engagement and constitute, in effect, a unitary structure for application to a rail.

24. A rail anchor comprising a pair of relatively movable rail gripping members, one of which is formed with converging surfaces'between which the other member is wedgingly engaged when the anchor is separate from a rail, said surfaces being so disposed as to hold the members relatively to one another in positions of readiness for assembly to a rail.

25. A rail anchor comprising a. pair of relatively movablerail gripping members, one of which is formed with converging surfaces between which the other member is wedgingly engaged when the anchor is separate from arail, the compressive forces resulting from such engagement being exerted in lines which will extend longitudinally of a rail when the anchor is applied thereto.

26. A rail anchor comprising a pair of relatively movable rail gripping members, one of which is formed with converging parts between which the other member is wedgingly engaged with flexion of said converging parts when the anchor is separate from a rail, whereby the reflex action of said flexed member maintains such frictional engagement of the members that they are held in firm frictional engagement for application as a unit to a rail.

27. A rail anchor comprising a pair of relatively movable members, 4adapted to grippingly embrace a rail base between them, said members being so formed and correlated that upon predetermined relative movement, when separate from a rail, the members enter intoV frictional vengagement the intensity of which increases with the amplitude of said relative movement to the extent that the members are in such close frictional engagement with one another as to be, in effect, a unitary device for application to the rail base.

ROLANDIYS A. BLAIR. 

